Pregnancy planning: the valuable tools of nutritional therapy and naturopathy

After discussing a number of risks in the previous article and, above all, identifying possible causes of risks surrounding a birth plan, particularly with regard to infertility or miscarriage, in this second part of the article we will discuss the various solutions offered by naturopathy and nutritional therapy to address the issues that may arise or to help couples prepare for this period as calmly as possible.
A comprehensive and personalised approach, particularly in terms of nutrition, enables those who wish to experience their birth plan in the gentlest and most natural way possible to find solutions to prepare well for pregnancy.
We will discuss these solutions for each stage of the birth plan. Part 2 – Natural solutions from nutritional therapy and naturopathy

The design

The main problem that couples will encounter during the conception stage is infertility issues. We will first address the issue of male infertility.

Male infertility

As we have seen, there are several causes of male infertility. The most common are:

• Sperm quality often declines with age, but also
• smoking,
• alcoholism,
• an unbalanced diet,
• wearing briefs and underwear that are too warm[1] and tight,
• radio waves, Wi-Fi, mobile phones, and other radiation

To achieve this, it is important to undertake detoxification of the body, DNA repair and stimulation of spermatogenesis even before conception.
Relatively old studies already reported male infertility caused by high temperatures in the testicles. Recently, research has even focused on male contraception through scrotal hyperthermia[2].

Avoid wearing briefs and opt for boxer shorts instead.

Studies have shown that wearing briefs keeps the testicles warm, even at night, slowing sperm motility and reducing sperm count. That is why it is recommended to wear boxer shorts and sleep naked without underwear, while keeping your feet warm, for example by sleeping with socks that can be easily removed during the night, in a cool, non-overheated room (below 18°C, ideally between 16 and 14°C).

Avoid using computers and carrying mobile phones near your genitals.

So, gentlemen, to promote good fertility:

• Wear boxer shorts,
• Sleep naked, without underwear,
• Keep any Wi-Fi transmitters, mobile phones, etc. as far away from your genitals as possible.

Avoid endocrine disruptors and heavy metals

As we saw in the previous article, endocrine disruptors found in our environment and food (pesticides, phthalates, bisphenol A, parabens, PCBs, etc.) are responsible for hormonal dysfunction in both men and women (reduced spermatogenesis, infertility, miscarriages, genital malformations in foetuses, etc.). It is therefore essential to eliminate these endocrine disruptors, which are found everywhere in our environment, particularly in plastics and other food containers, cosmetics, industrial products, textiles and fabrics used in the home, paint, etc.
Heavy metals also accumulate in the body’s tissues and, through repeated exposure, can cause disease as well as female infertility and miscarriages. In the case of mercury, for example, we find it in oily fish, metal food containers (aluminium), dental amalgams, pipes, industrial products, tobacco, etc.
Next, we will look at lifestyle choices and natural solutions for detoxifying the body and eliminating pollutants.

Detoxify the body

Quitting smoking, for example, can be undertaken if conditions are favourable in terms of environment (limited stress), with the help of tools such as:

• hypnosis, but also
• meditation,
• resuming physical activity for the endorphins it produces,
• phytotherapy using Kudzu, a plant recommended for helping with all types of addiction,
• nutritional therapy by treating impulsive tension with a serotonergic diet based on vegetables, moderate amounts of slow-release carbohydrates at each meal in the form of whole or semi-whole grains, for example,
• water activities
• and massages.

Eliminate pollutants from your body

In order to eliminate toxins and pollutants from the body, it is possible to stimulate natural detoxification processes to get rid of toxins and pollutants that have accumulated in the body. To this end, Phyiomance Detox (Thérascience) is specifically designed with nutrients that stimulate the liver’s natural detoxification processes, such as broccoli glucoraphanes, black radish, betaine, N-acetylcysteine, apple pectin, silicon, as well as cofactors such as magnesium, vitamins B6, B9, B12 and zinc.
To detoxify the liver, we also have the phytotherapeutic aid of milk thistle and desmodium, which we discussed in a previous article.
I also recommend detoxing heavy metals with, for example, Biophénix’s Equilibre DTOX product, which is based on lemon pectin, or Métaux détox from the Herbolistique laboratory, which is based on chlorella, wild garlic and coriander.
In nutritional therapy, we can also use zinc (to protect against cadmium, lead and mercury), selenium (mercury), magnesium and silicon (aluminium) (see Heavy Metal Assessment with Oligoscan), vitamin C and N-Acetyl-Cysteine (a precursor of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant and the main component in pollutant detoxification pathways).
To protect cells during the discharge of toxins and heavy metals, there is also alpha-lipoic acid, another powerful antioxidant that spares and protects other antioxidants and is a powerful chelator of heavy metals. This element has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and enable the elimination of heavy metals lodged in the brain, thereby preventing neurodegenerative diseases, for example.
However, it is essential to eliminate these toxins through the stool by consuming plenty of fibre, drinking plenty of (unpolluted) water and eating a vegetarian and anti-inflammatory diet (very rich in vegetables, low in meat, low in sugars, trans fats and saturated animal fats, etc.). Constipation is a contraindication to any detoxification treatment if the person knows they are highly intoxicated, particularly due to the presence of numerous dental amalgams and fillings (lead, mercury) and heavy, long-term smoking.
The elimination of chelated pollutants through urine and perspiration (physical activity, sauna) that have been loosened and carried away by various nutritional therapy tools will also be promoted by drinking sufficient amounts of water.
This detox is also suitable for women.

Repairing your genetic material and DNA

This will enable us to repair the DNA of parents who have been altered, whose genetic mutations can be passed on to their children and which are one of the causes of infertility. These mutations can then lead to chromosomal abnormalities in the future foetus, which is the main cause of miscarriages. Prospective parents over the age of 40 are more likely to experience infertility due to cellular ageing and DNA damage caused by longer exposure, particularly in terms of stress, than younger parents in their 20s.
One of the most powerful products for repairing DNA and promoting genome integrity is Physiomance DNAir (Therascience). It contains genoprotective active ingredients such as quercetin, rutin, rosmarinic acid and luteolin, which stimulate our natural DNA repair processes or inhibit DNA damage processes, as well as all the cofactors needed for DNA repair processes, such as zinc, magnesium, vitamins B9, B12, C and E.
Finally, thanks to Chinese pharmacopoeia, we have another plant that protects against oxidative damage to DNA, with antioxidant and anti-ageing properties: astragalus, which also protects and repairs DNA by slowing the shortening of telomeres (the ends of chromosomes) and supporting the action of telomerase during each DNA replication, which rebuilds the telomeres. Telomere shortening is correlated with cellular ageing and therefore with reduced longevity, as well as with the onset of cancer[3]. It is exacerbated by lifestyle factors (smoking, stress, inflammation, overweight, obesity, etc.).
It is possible to determine the state of alteration of one’s DNA by measuring the 8OHDG marker in biological analyses, for example, but also MDA or urinary isoprostanes. The degree of heavy metal, pesticide and other pollutant poisoning can also be assessed by hair analysis.
Finally, one of the fastest ways to repair your DNA is also to fast for several days or practise “calorie restriction”.[4] or “intermittent fasting”.. The body will then go into survival mode and implement self-restoration and autophagy processes.[5], … ; what is known as hormesis[6]. The processes of repairing oxidative stress and DNA damage will also be stimulated by this state of hormesis.

Stimulate spermatogenesis

The nutrients to take in cases of male infertility are:
Zinc (this is the most important element for improving sperm count and motility), vitamins B9 and B1, nicotinamide, ginseng, fruits rich in OPCs, magnesium, vitamins C and E and other antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. We will look at which supplements to take below.
In terms of diet, we will therefore focus on foods rich in the protective nutrients we saw earlier (green tea, red fruits and wild berries, foods rich in vitamin C, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, red onion, turmeric, nettle, dark chocolate (without aluminium foil), organic liver, organic eggs, whole grains), raw beetroot, black radish, sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, miso, tempeh, kimchi, etc.
In gemmotherapy, we can use oak or sequoia bud macerate, for example.
Acupuncture is also recommended in cases of infertility to help improve sperm motility.

Female infertility and hormonal imbalance

Studies have shown that a vegetarian or vegetarian-oriented diet reduces the risk of amenorrhoea[7] compared to non-vegetarian and therefore meat-based diets.
In gemmotherapy, raspberry or apple tree buds can be used, for example, to regulate the female hormonal cycle.
Chaste tree and alchemilla in phytotherapy can also help restore hormonal balance.

The design

Infertility affects women over the age of 40 more often because, as they get older, they have had time to accumulate many toxins and pollutants (which disrupt the body’s proper functioning) and see their DNA degraded (smoking, repeated exposure to UV rays, pollution, stress, etc.). Their energy metabolism has become less efficient (due to a sedentary lifestyle, stress, and excess weight). The body has had time to become exhausted and deficient (in the case of an unbalanced diet or repeated dieting)…. The potential of a 20-year-old is greatly diminished, but it is possible to recharge and regenerate the body and help it optimise its energy metabolism again, as we saw above (anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory diet, dietary supplements to make up for deficiencies, physical activity to boost metabolism, breathing, stress and emotion management, fasting to regenerate the body, etc.) and thus help it rejuvenate to calmly welcome a pregnancy.
Miscarriages are most often due to a chromosomal abnormality or the consequences of past gynaecological procedures.
As we saw above, we can detoxify the body of pollutants, but in this specific case, we can repair the DNA of the future mother and father through phytotherapy and nutritional therapy, for example with Physiomance DNAir from Thérascience, which is rich in quercetin, rutin, rosmarinic acid and luteolin. Or according to the DNA repair advice seen above.
Stress and fatigue, as well as nutritional deficiencies, are also major causes of miscarriage.
To address this, we will offer the future mother stress management tools such as:

• Yoga,
• meditation,
• massages,
• water activities,
• Nutritional therapy following the same protocol as for the future father; a diet rich in vegetables, slow-release carbohydrates at every meal, magnesium and a month-long course of B vitamins.
• I would also recommend eating organic liver for its vitamin B, zinc and iron content, which are essential nutrients for pregnancy. Deficiencies in these nutrients can prevent the foetus from developing properly or lead to significant deficiencies in the mother during pregnancy, putting the pregnancy at risk.

However, in cases of female fertility, there is also a significant psychological component that may be worth exploring (or not), even if all biological tests appear to show no imbalance, dysfunction or deficiency.

Pregnancy

Before becoming pregnant, it is therefore essential that the mother detoxifies herself from pollutants, excess oestrogen from the pill and endocrine disruptors (see above) in order to limit congenital malformations and foetal development problems and the consequences for the mother’s health, which would worsen with pregnancy.
During pregnancy, it is also important to provide all the essential nutrients that the mother and foetus need for the proper development of the foetus and the physical and mental well-being of the mother, and to replenish any deficiencies in minerals, vitamins or trace elements (in particular, vitamin B9, iron, calcium, vitamin D, but also zinc and magnesium).
In terms of diet, it is therefore very important to ensure that you eat organic foods, lots of vegetables, both raw and gently steamed, fruit and foods rich in omega-3, particularly DHA for brain development, but not oily fish due to the presence of heavy metals, whole and semi-whole grains, oilseeds, seeds and legumes.

Iron supplementation is not recommended except in cases of anaemia, as excess iron in the body is a major pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory agent when taken in high doses and can pose risks to foetal development. It is much more advisable to advise mothers to eat red meat 1 to 3 times a week or offal (organic liver, black pudding, gizzards, , etc.) no more than once a month (to avoid excess vitamin A) while consuming vitamin C during the meal to increase iron absorption and avoiding drinking green tea during meals, which has the opposite effect.
On the other hand, barbecues and grilled meats should also be avoided, as they contain molecules that are toxic to the body (as much as smoking) and molecules that are harmful to DNA integrity, known as Maillard molecules, which are also found in burnt crusts (bread, pastry, pizza, biscuits, cakes, etc.).

Perinatal dietary supplements

General multi-vitamin and mineral complex without iron or copper, such as Multidyn Femina (Bionutrics) or Sérénité Grossesse (Synergia), particularly if there is a suspicion of deficiency due to an unbalanced diet or poor nutrient absorption.
I recently discovered the UNAE brand, a dietary supplement laboratory founded by Julien Venesson, a scientific journalist and formulator for numerous laboratories, whose seriousness and rigour in his research and writing on natural health I respect. UNAE offers products without excipients or additives, without iron or copper, without lactose, without gluten, without GMOs and in eco-friendly packaging (without plastic). And of course, in terms of composition and formulation, they are top of the range! A special pregnancy complex is included in this range of supplements and I can only recommend it. In particular, it contains folates rather than folic acid, which are much better absorbed. Above all, folic acid in its synthetic form, which can be found in excess in the body (unmetabolised), can be harmful in cases of cancer and reduce the chances of pregnancy for some women with a mutation in the MTHFR gene.
Vitamin B complex, B-Nutrics (Bionutrics) or Equilibre Vitamines B (Biophenix) should be taken for one month initially to correct deficiencies before switching to one of the general pregnancy supplements mentioned above.
Vitamin D must be corrected before conception, then taken at a dose of 1000 to 2000 IU per day depending on blood levels from the date of conception.
Magnesium, D-stress booster (Synergia) in corrective doses.
Omega 3, particularly DHA, for proper foetal development and the mother’s nervous and emotional balance. Stop taking this supplement in the third trimester of pregnancy to avoid the risk of haemorrhage during childbirth, but continue to consume it in the form of plant-based foods. In fact, consumption of oily fish is not recommended for expectant mothers throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, and even 3 months before conception, due to contamination by pollutants and heavy metals.
Probiotics to strengthen the immune system and correct any imbalance in the flora

Fetal immune system

The mother’s antibodies pass through the placenta (as do pollutants and endocrine disruptors, for that matter). This means that the mother will pass on most of her immune system (the rest is already passed on genetically).
The mother’s immune system can be stimulated by promoting healthy gut flora through a plant-rich diet (natural probiotics and prebiotics), drinking enough fluids and avoiding constipation, eating meat regularly but in moderate amounts just before and during pregnancy, and limiting intake to avoid constipation.

Stress management and preparation for childbirth

Essential oils are dangerous and prohibited for most pregnant women, with a few exceptions, but in aromatherapy, expectant mothers can benefit from powerful effects on their emotional state (lavender, marjoram, sweet orange, petitgrain bigarade, chamomile).
Prenatal yoga and haptonomy will also allow expectant mothers to connect with their pregnant bodies and their babies. This will also help expectant mothers prepare for childbirth.
Music (music therapy[8]) is just as suitable for listening to, playing or, better still, singing along to, as it releases endorphins and dopamine, promoting a sense of well-being that will be felt by the baby. What’s more, all the animals and plants in the house will benefit too.

Childbirth

It is important to note that during natural birth, the baby comes into contact with the mother’s vaginal and anal flora, then with her skin flora during the very first feeds, thus forming an important part of its microbiota and the basis of its immune system. This is not the case during a caesarean section, where the child is born with deficient flora, or when breastfeeding does not occur.

Breastfeeding

As with the mother’s diet to promote good intestinal flora and a healthy immune system during pregnancy and natural childbirth, breastfeeding helps stimulate the baby’s immune system. Breast milk is rich in fatty acids and antibodies, which also help to strengthen the baby’s immune system. The longer the baby is breastfed, the more developed its immune system will be. It is possible and even highly beneficial for the baby’s immune system, well-being and psychological development[9], neurological and emotional development, breastfeeding your baby beyond 1 year of age (up to two years according to the WHO, alongside a varied diet). The benefits are also increased for the mother, reducing the risk of cancer and osteoporosis.
Babies’ tastes begin to develop in utero. It is therefore a good idea to get your unborn child used to enjoying vegetables, fruit and spices, and healthy fatty acids, and to avoid excessive consumption of salt, sugar and saturated and trans fats (the latter being toxic to the body).
To promote lactation, we can use herbal teas made from a blend of galactogenic plants or spices such as fennel, fenugreek, verbena, basil, cumin and nettle, among others, which also aid digestion and relaxation. Conversely, excessive consumption of parsley, sage and mint should be avoided.
Mothers who are unable to breastfeed can express their milk or use milk banks to provide their babies with breast milk that is rich in antibodies and physiologically much better suited to their needs than cow’s milk or industrial infant formula.
However, whether breastfeeding or not, skin-to-skin contact between mother and child is necessary, even outside of feeding times, for the infant’s emotional and psychological development. Carrying the baby in a sling, skin-to-skin, is also encouraged and recommended for at least the first year of the baby’s life.

Motherhood

Childbirth will be facilitated by taking magnesium throughout pregnancy, which will help the mother-to-be with contractions, pain, emotional stress, the nervous system, and fatigue and energy levels.
In the event of severe and persistent baby blues, do not hesitate to increase the magnesium dose to 600mg/day and take a vitamin B complex for one month to correct the situation, if this has not already been done.
A healthy diet rich in vegetables, tryptophan, fruit and slow-release carbohydrates at every meal will help the mother produce and conserve serotonin and promote better sleep during rest periods after the arrival of the newborn.
Psychobiotics can also be used to act on the intestinal flora and promote a better nervous and emotional state for the mother, preventing postpartum depression.
It is possible to choose to give birth naturally at home, if the pregnancy is not high-risk. This is known as home birth (it accounts for 5% of births in France and 90% worldwide), accompanied by a midwife, in the comfort, gentleness and privacy of the home, in an inflatable pool.
Home birth allows for a physiological delivery in conditions that are conducive to the emotional well-being of the baby and the parents-to-be, providing a gentle and warm birth experience.
There are also “birth centres” associated with clinics that allow for a more physiological birth while still providing medical care. Unfortunately, there are only a few of these in France.
Finally, I would highly recommend that couples and women who want to experience pregnancy and motherhood in a natural way seek the support of a doula.
Pregnancy support
Fasting at home
Back to the blog home page

Laboratoires UNAE, Bionutrics, Biophenix

[1] Mieusset R, Bujan L (1995) Testicular heating and its contributions to male infertility: a review. Int J Androl 18: 169-84
[2] Hyperthermie scrotale et infécondité masculine. Progrès en Urologie(1992), 2, 31-36, R. MIEUSSET(1), L. BUJAN (2), A. MANSAT (2), F . PONTONNIER (3) (1) Centre de Stérilité Masculine, (2) CECOS Midi-Pyrénées, Hôpital de la Grave, (3) Service d’Urologie, Hôpital Rangueil, Toulouse
[3] A dynamic DNA-repair complex observed by correlative single-molecule nanomanipulation and fluorescence, Evan T. Graves et al., Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 2015
[4] Masood A. Shammas (2012), Telomeres, lifestyle, cancer and aging. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care
[5] https://www.franceculture.fr/sciences/nobel-de-medecine-mais-quest-ce-que-lautophagie
[6] Masood A. Shammas (2012), Telomeres, lifestyle, cancer and aging. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care
[7] S. I. Barr et al, Vegetarian vs nonvegetarian diets, dietary restraint, and subclinical ovulatory disturbances : prospective 6-mo study, Am J Clin Nutr, 1994, 60 (6) : 887-894
[8] https://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/sante/cerveau-et-psy/musicotherapie-quand-la-musique-remplace-le-medicament_31137
[9] Newton N.  The uniqueness of human milk. Psychological differences between breast and bottle feeding. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1971;24(8):993-1004.